Guiding gun control legislation in Costa Rica includes the Arms and Explosives Law No. 7530 of 1995,5031 its Regulation of 2013,51 the Regulation for the Administration, Use, and Control of Firearms by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport,52 the Agreement No. 180 of 2014 on the Import of Firearms Similar to Prohibited Firearms,53 the Agreement No. 112 of 2015,54 as amended by Agreement No. 122,55 the Circular No. 147 of 2012 on Reducing the Number of Arms Belonging to the State56 and the Directive No. 0 of 201257

Genuine Reason Required for Firearm Possession

Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in Costa Rica are required to establish a genuine reason to possess a firearm, for example personal protection,65667879 security,5554 hunting, sports shooting7580 and collection76

Minimum Age for Firearm Possession

The minimum age for gun ownership in Costa Rica is 18 years to possess and carry, or 14 years for hunting and target shooting while under the immediate supervision of an appropriately licensed adult81828384

Licensing Records

Limit on Number of Guns

Licensed firearm owners in Costa Rica are permitted to possess no more than three firearms intended for personal protection, but there is no limit on firearms for hunting and target shooting731007910177

Authorities in Costa Rica are known to have1251261012762128 implemented voluntary firearm surrender schemes, and/or weapon seizure programmes in order to reduce the number of illicit firearms in circulation

Central American Integration System

As a member of the Central American Integration System (SICA), Costa Rica is party to the 2007 Central American Programme on Small Arms Control and the Code of Conduct of Central American States on the Transfer of Arms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Material143

Organization of American States

On 14 November 1997, as a member of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Costa Rica adopted the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), a legally binding multilateral treaty of which the OAS is depository. The CIFTA Convention has since been signed and ratified144145 by Costa Rica

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Costa Rica committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects149

UNPoA Implementation Monitor Score

In its UN small arms Programme of Action Implementation Monitor (PoAIM Phase 1), the Small Arms Survey scored Costa Rica against its commitments to the PoA, then ranked it at No. 115150151152153 among 159 Member States

To see where Costa Rica ranks, select the Link icon to open an external web page at the Global Peace Index

Short References

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